Kathmandu, March 2 (NationPress) The Embassy of Nepal in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) confirmed on Monday that a young man from the western Gorkha district of Nepal was tragically killed during a drone interception operation at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi amidst the escalating US-Iran tensions.

The security landscape in the Middle East has grown increasingly volatile following the coordinated US-Israel strike on Iran, which has prompted retaliatory actions from Iran against various Gulf nations hosting US military installations. The UAE, which is one of these nations, has become a target for Iranian reprisals.

“Diwas Shrestha, 29, hailing from Gorkha District and employed as a security guard at a Middle East firm in Abu Dhabi, tragically lost his life,” stated the Embassy of Nepal in their condolence message. “We have received official notification from the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding this unfortunate incident, which took place during a drone interception operation at Zayed International Airport, leading to the premature demise of Shrestha.”

On Sunday, the UAE’s Ministry of Defence reported that one Nepali, one Pakistani, and one Bangladeshi national had been killed in airstrikes, with 58 others suffering minor injuries. The injured individuals comprised nationals from various countries including Emirati, Egyptian, Ethiopian, Filipino, Pakistani, Iranian, Indian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Azerbaijani, Yemeni, Ugandan, Eritrean, Lebanese, and Afghan origins.

“The Embassy of Nepal conveys its profound sorrow over Shrestha's passing and extends heartfelt condolences to his grieving family, praying for the peace of his departed soul,” the statement read. They assured that the Embassy would assist in all necessary arrangements for repatriating Shrestha's remains to Nepal once conditions allow, noting that due to the ongoing conflict, airspace in several Gulf countries, including the UAE, remains closed.

As per data from Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, approximately 1,729,288 Nepalis are legally residing across 12 nations in the Middle East, with the UAE hosting the largest population at around 700,000.

Following the UAE, Saudi Arabia has the second-highest number of Nepali nationals at 384,865, while Qatar is home to 357,913. Additionally, there are about 175,000 Nepalis in Kuwait, 30,000 in Iraq, 28,000 in Bahrain, 25,000 in Oman, 17,000 in Cyprus, 6,500 in Israel, 1,500 in Lebanon, 500 in Egypt, and merely six in Iran. These Gulf states are critical for many Nepali migrant workers whose remittances significantly bolster Nepal’s economy.

The ongoing war poses a severe risk to the safety of millions of Nepalis residing in Gulf nations. During her address to the nation on Monday, Nepal’s interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki emphasized that the government is vigilantly monitoring the situation in the region.

“The safety of our Nepali brothers, sisters, and youth there is a primary concern. All Nepali diplomatic missions in the region have been activated to ensure security measures, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is attentively observing developments,” she stated.